BU vs. Cornell

Deciding between Boston University and Cornell University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
Cornell University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Cornell No
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Cornell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Cornell No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Cornell University 9:1.

BU vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Cornell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Cornell ($24,420 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 2.1% lower than at Cornell University ($19,020 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $1,212 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Cornell than at Boston University (about $1,212 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Cornell University (49% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($61,848 vs. $61,779).

BU vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Cornell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cornell and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 60 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

BU vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Cornell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $26,400 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.